Tag Archives: technique

Tips for Writers: Learn to Love the Burn

Posted on May 18, 2023 by mitchteemley

The key to building muscles, oddly enough, is to regularly and repeatedly expose yourself to pain. Not too much, not too little. Too much—torn muscles, tendonitis, bone spurs—is bad news. Too little is no news at all. Muscles grow when … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 56 Comments

Tips for Writers: Write What You Know?

Posted on April 27, 2023 by mitchteemley

A successful writer friend once went tiradical on me when I mentioned the literary admonition, “Write what you know.” “I hate that!” she shouted. “Why?” “It restricts you! What if you want to write about something you’ve never experienced?” Interestingly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

Tips for Writing: Become a Brain Archaeologist

Posted on July 28, 2022 by mitchteemley

Photo by Dương Nhân Memoirs! I still write fiction, essays, and screenplays. But I take particular pleasure in composing the My Real Memoir posts I hope one day to publish in book form. These have been gratifyingly received by blogger … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Memoir, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 48 Comments

Two Years of Writing Tips!

Posted on June 8, 2022 by mitchteemley

I’m up to my proverbial eyeballs in projects once again – the chiefest of which is my daughter’s wedding (which I’m officiating, btw)! Hence, I’ll be on hiatus for a week or so. Therefore, this is the perfect time for … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Tips for Writers: Just Show Up

Posted on January 30, 2021 by mitchteemley

So, what’s the tip? It’s right there in the title, actually, but by way of explanation: Underpinning my previous encouragement to not wait for inspiration, is the fact that a leap-of-faith is involved in believing you’ll have any idea what to … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 81 Comments

Tips for Writers: The Serious Business of Funny

Posted on November 19, 2020 by mitchteemley

It’s been said that the only difference between Shakespeare’s tragedies and comedies is this: at the end of his tragedies, everyone dies, and at the end of his comedies, everyone gets married. A Midsummer Night’s Dream could have been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Movies, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Tips for Writers: A Cure for Writer’s Block

Posted on February 20, 2020 by mitchteemley

One possible cure. Preferable cure below. There are two definitions for block: 1) an obstacle to be avoided; 2) a material to be used (as in construction). The cure for Writers Block (and its evil twin, Trouble Getting Started) is … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 44 Comments

Tips for Writers: Sin Boldly!

Posted on September 6, 2019 by mitchteemley

Martin Luther famously said, “Sin boldly, but believe more boldly still!” In other words, if you’re going to do something, don’t do it by halves! While editing my novel, I became aware that I’d overused the phrase “as if” and … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 34 Comments

Tips for Writers: Creating Dynamic Sentences

Posted on March 15, 2019 by mitchteemley

BAH-da-da-DAHHhhh! BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh! BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh, BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh, BAH-da-da-DAHHHhhhh! Even if you’re not a classical music fan, you know the iconic opening from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Ludwig van Beethoven is the ultimate pin-up boy for one of the most important of all creative techniques: … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Quips and Quotes, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Tips for Writers: Subconscious Mannerisms

Posted on June 8, 2018 by mitchteemley

My high school drama teacher had a quirky habit: first he’d pull on his nose, and then he’d push on it. One day, in the midst of a discussion about mannerisms, he told us where this habit came from: As … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Humor, Memoir, Story Power, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments